I did enjoy this - I also agree that my Show line Labs are very playful, and very easily distracted. I think knowing that though, definitely helps. I'm doing a lot better at Gundog training my second than my first (although whether I have the skills to train one to work remains to be seen) with play as a big reinforcer. Distractions continue to be a massive challenge though.

I do wonder...why the article says that Show line Labs are more laid back and lower energy, and the experience of owning one is that she has no 'off switch'. My dogs also have no 'off switch'. They are not laid back, they are not low energy. My 4 year old shows no signs of becoming laid back as he gets older....although again, knowing that the second time around my early training with the second one was focussed on training an off switch! So I'm doing better with that.